Fastening of a riding ring to the casing of a rotary cylinder

ABSTRACT

The aim of the invention is fasten a riding ring of a rotary cylinder, particularly of a rotary kiln, whereby the riding ring, apart from the arresting thereof in an axial direction, can also be arrested in its peripheral direction with regard to the rotary cylinder casing without the manufacturing of the riding ring requiring complicated machine processes such as shaving, shaping, the making of through holes, etc. To this end, the invention provides that the riding ring is manufactured only in the form of a turned part, and clamping elements are placed around the riding ring periphery in a distributed manner. Said clamping elements engage in a non-positive manner with peripheral slots of the riding ring and are actively connected to supporting elements that are fastened to the rotary cylinder casing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a fastening of a riding ring on the casing of arotary cylinder, in particular a rotary furnace for the heat treatmentof free-flowing materials, in particular bulk solids such as raw cementmix, whereby the riding ring, which encircles the rotary casing withclearance, is locked in the axial direction and in the circumferentialdirection relative to the rotary cylinder via support elements affixedto the casing of the rotary cylinder.

There are mainly two different fastening types used to fasten ridingrings to the casing of a rotary cylinder e.g. of a rotary furnace:

1. The so-called loose riding ring fastening (floating tire), known e.g.from DE-A-32 03 241. The riding ring is thereby not rigidly connectedwith the casing of the rotary cylinder but rather encircles the casingwith radial play. On the riding ring station, the radial loads or forcesfrom the furnace cylinder must be fed to the track rollers via theriding ring and to the baseplate via the bearing blocks. The riding ringis smooth on all sides and its axial movement is restricted by theretaining element fastened to the casing of the rotary cylinder. In thecircumferential direction, the riding ring can move freely relative tothe casing of the furnace and namely on washer plates, which are looselyinserted into the ring gap between the riding ring and the casing of thefurnace, whereby any necessary corrections to the play of the ridingring can be made by switching out the washer plates. Ovalizations andother deformations of the casing of the rotary cylinder can becompensated for to a certain extent with this type of riding ring.However, the play of the riding ring and the relative movement of theriding ring must be constantly monitored using a measuring device forthe safe and secure operation of this type of riding ring station.

2. The so-called fixed riding ring fastening (fixed tire), known e.g.from DE-A-38 01 231 as well as EP-B-0 765 459. The interior surface ofthe riding ring fastening known from the first document is provided withcogs like an inner toothed rim, and the riding ring is supported in theaxial direction as well as in the circumferential direction on retainingelements welded to the casing of the rotary cylinder via these cogs aswell as wedges and washer plates. The riding ring fastening known fromthe second document has through holes distributed around the perimeter,through which through bolts can be fed, the ends of which are affixed toretaining elements of the casing of the rotary cylinder so that, in thismanner, the riding ring is fixed not only in the axial direction butalso in the circumferential direction. It is understood that both theplaning and shaping of the internal teeth of a riding ring as well asthe boring of holes in the riding ring are very costly production steps.Add to this the fact that material sectional weakenings are caused byboth the inner teeth as well as by the through holes of the known ridingrings, which is why these known riding rings must be constructed to berelatively thick-walled, which in turn leads to higher costs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to create a fastening for a riding ringof a rotary cylinder, in particular a rotary furnace, whereby the ridingring, irrespective of its locking, can be immobilized in the axialdirection as well as in its circumferential direction with respect tothe casing of the rotary cylinder without the riding ring requiringcomplex machining like planing, shaping, and the creation of throughholes, etc.

In the riding ring fastening according to the invention, the riding ringitself is manufactured as a pure turning work piece, i.e. the cast orforged riding ring only needs to be processed on a carousel lathemachine, which needs to be used anyway to finish the riding ring to thedesired external diameter and inner diameter. Further machining likeplaning, shaping, boring, etc. is not required. With one and the samelathe machine, only circular grooves, in which clamping elementsdistributed around the perimeter are force fit, which on the other handare connected with support elements affixed to the casing of the rotarycylinder and which lock the riding ring in both the axial direction andthe circumferential direction, are turned into the riding ring, whereby,however, radial play is retained between the casing of the rotarycylinder and the interior surface of the riding ring and the innersurface of the riding ring for the incorporation of thermal expansions,deformations of the rotary cylinder, etc.

In accordance with another characteristic of the invention, the circulargrooves of the riding ring are arranged on the interior surface of theriding ring and/or on at least one of the lateral surfaces of the ridingring as annular tensioning grooves, and the clamping elements can bedesigned as screw jaws, which engage with the tensioning groove on onehand and are fastened between the support elements of the casing of therotary cylinder on the other hand and which each have a clamping screw.After the clamping screw is pulled, the screw jaw or the clampingelement is force fit on the riding ring. The clamping elements or theclamping jaws are freely accessible, so that a retensioning or switchingout of the clamping jaws can take place at any time. The clampingelements or the clamping jaws can be standard parts, which also fit forrotary-cylinder riding rings of different diameters. As a rule, theriding ring supports the casing of the rotary cylinder centrically viaits clamping jaws, which are distributed around the perimeter and areforce fit, whereby the riding ring no longer experiences relativemovement with respect to the casing of the rotary cylinder. Ifnecessary, e.g. in the case of non-round and/or arched rotary-cylindercasings, it is also possible to support the bearing ring eccentricallyon the casing of the rotary cylinder via its clamping elements. Ineither case, play remains for the riding ring, which is fixed in theaxial and circumferential directions, in the radial direction withrespect to the rotary-cylinder casing. This play enables an unhinderedexpansion of the rotary-cylinder casing, e.g. during heating.

In accordance with another characteristic of the invention, the screwjaws of the clamping elements can be designed angularly, with an axialangular arm, the hook-shaped end of which engages with the circulargroove arranged on the interior surface of the riding ring, while theradial angular arm supports the at least one clamping screw mentionedabove, which engages with the circular groove arranged on theneighboring lateral surface of the riding ring and thus tensions theclamping element with the riding ring in a force-fitting manner.

But, the screw jaws of the clamping elements can also be designed likegrippers or shears, whereby the jaws of the grippers or the ends of theshears can be clamped in the circular grooves of the lateral surfaces ofthe riding rings.

The invention and its further characteristics and advantages aredescribed in greater detail using the exemplary embodiments illustratedschematically in the figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The figures show the following:

FIG. 1: A cross section of a rotary-cylinder casing with clampingelements distributed over the perimeter, which clamp a riding ring thatis shown from the side on the rotary-cylinder casing,

FIG. 2: A partial longitudinal section through the rotary-cylindercasing with a tensioned riding ring force-fit on it via clampingelements or screw jaws,

FIG. 3: A partial top view of the riding ring fastening,

FIG. 4: As variants for FIG. 3, a riding ring fastening, in which thescrew jaws of the clamping elements are designed like grippers on theright side of the riding ring and like shears on the left side of theriding ring,

FIG. 5: A partial top view of the riding ring fastening or the supportelements fastened on the rotary-cylinder casing, designed as springguides,

FIG. 6: As variants for FIGS. 2 and 4, another type of riding ringfastening, and

FIG. 7: The lateral view of a riding ring with a circular groove, intowhich clamping elements distributed over the perimeter with taperedforce transfer surfaces are inserted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows a lateral view of riding ring 10, which is fastened on thecasing 11 of a rotary cylinder, e.g. of a rotary furnace. The ridingring 10 encircles the rotary-cylinder casing 11 with radial play 12, andit is clamped in the axial direction and in the circumferentialdirection relative to the rotary cylinder via support elements 13, 14,which are fastened on the rotary-cylinder casing 11 by means of theclamping elements 15, 16, etc. described below. On the bottom side, theriding ring 10 is mounted on two track roller stations 17 and 18.Despite the immobilization of the riding ring 10, the radial play 12allows an unhindered expansion of the rotary-cylinder casing 11 throughheating, deformations, etc.

The entire riding ring 10 is manufactured inexpensively as a turningwork piece on a carousel lathe machine, i.e. the riding ring has no boreholes, cogs, etc. As can be seen in FIG. 1, clamping elements 15, 16,etc. are arranged around the perimeter of the riding ring 10; on onehand, they engage in a force-fit manner with the circular grooves (ascan be seen in FIGS. 2 and 4 through 7) of the riding ring and on theother hand are connected with the support elements 13, 14, etc. fastenedto the rotary-cylinder casing 11 and they immobilize the riding ring inboth the axial and circumferential directions.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, annular tensioning grooves 19, 20, with whichscrew jaws 21 of the clamping elements 15, 16 engage, are turned intothe interior surface of the riding ring 10 and/or into at least onelateral surface of the riding ring, whereby each of these screw jaws arearranged between the support elements 13, 14 fastened on therotary-cylinder casing 11, as can also be seen in FIGS. 1 and 3. Thescrew jaws 21 of the clamping elements distributed around the perimeterof the riding ring 10 are designed angularly, and the axial angular armwith a hook-shaped end 22 or ends 22 a and 22 b in accordance with theexemplary embodiment in FIG. 3 engages almost swallow-tail-like with thecircular groove 19 arranged on the interior surface of the riding ring,while the radial angular arm supports at least one tensioning screw 23,which engages with the circular groove 20 arranged on the neighboringlateral side of the riding ring and which, after being pulled, tensionsin a force-fit manner the screw jaws 21 of the clamping element with theriding ring 10. The clamping screw 23 can still be secured by a screw 24screwed into the radial angular arm of the screw jaws.

As can be seen in the top view in FIG. 3, the tensioning between theclamping element designed like screw jaws 21 and the riding ring 10 canbe advantageously designed as a symmetrical 3-point transfer of forcewith two spaced hooks 22 a, 22 b per angular screw jaw 21 arranged onthe axial angular arm, which lie symmetrically opposite the clampingscrew 23 arranged in the radial angular arm of the screw jaws.

In accordance with the exemplary embodiment in the right half of FIG. 4,the screw jaws of the clamping elements can be designed like grippers,the gripper jaws 25 a, 25 b of which engage with or clamp into twoconcentric circular grooves 20 a, 20 b in the lateral surfaces of theriding ring 10, if necessary with the help of undercuts. In accordancewith the exemplary embodiment in the left half of FIG. 4, the screw jawsof the clamping elements can also be designed like shears, the shearends 27 a, 27 b of which can be pivoted around the pivot point 26 andpartially spread through openings or spreadings into an appropriatelyshaped circular groove 20 c on the lateral surface of the riding ring10. The clamping strength of the force-fit clamped joint is adjusted onthe clamping screw 23.

The top view in FIG. 5 shows that the support elements 13, 14 forimmobilizing the retaining ring 10 fastened on the rotary-cylindercasing 11 in the axial direction and in the circumferential directioncan have spring guides 28, 29 lying axially relative to the rotarycylinder, between each of which is arranged a clamping element 15, 16,etc. tensioned in a force-fit manner on the riding ring 10. These springguides 28, 29 act like a spring and enable an even more uniform transferof force from the rotary-cylinder casing 11 to the riding ring 10 viathe clamping elements 15, 16, etc. and from there to the baseplate viathe track rollers 17, 18. The exemplary embodiment in FIG. 6 differsfrom the exemplary embodiment in the right half of FIG. 4 in that thegripping jaws of the screw jaws of the clamping elements engage aroundthe corner on the riding ring 10; i.e. the gripping jaws 25 a engagewith circular groove 19 a arranged on the interior surface of the ridingring and the gripping jaws 25 b engage with a circular groove 20 barranged on the lateral surface on the riding ring.

In accordance with the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 7, wedge-shapedelements 30 a, 30 b, which engage with clamping elements 31 providedwith appropriate wedge surfaces, can be inserted into the radial groove20 d in the lateral surface of the riding ring 10, whereby the clampedjoint in this solution and thus the entire riding ring fastening arefurther reinforced as a result of the rotary-cylinder casing 11 set inmotion in the direction of the arrow.

As is apparent from the foregoing specification, the invention issusceptible of being embodied with various alterations and modificationswhich may differ particularly from those that have been described in thepreceding specification and description. It should be understood that wewish to embody within the scope of the patent warranted hereon all suchmodifications as reasonably and properly come within the scope of ourcontribution to the art.

1-7. (canceled)
 8. A fastening arrangement between a riding ring and a casing of a rotary cylinder, whereby the riding ring encircles the casing of the rotary cylinder with clearance, comprising: support elements affixed to the casing of the rotary cylinder and projecting radially outwardly, the riding ring having at least one circular groove on a surface thereof, a plurality of clamping elements distributed around a perimeter of the riding ring, the distributed clamping elements engaging in a force-fit manner with the circular groove of the riding ring, the clamping elements being connected with the support elements, whereby the riding ring is immobilized in both the axial and circumferential directions relative to the casing of the rotary cylinder.
 9. A fastening arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the rotary cylinder is a rotary furnace for the heat treatment of free-flowing materials.
 10. A fastening arrangement according to claim 16, wherein the free-flowing materials heat treated in the rotary furnace are bulk solids in the form of raw cement mix.
 11. A fastening arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the support elements affixed to the rotary cylinder casing have spring guides oriented axially relative to the rotary cylinder, between each of which is positioned a clamping element tensioned in a force-fit manner on the riding ring.
 12. A fastening arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the riding ring is finished only on a lathe with no borings.
 13. A fastening arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the at least one circular groove of the riding ring is arranged on at least one of an interior surface of the riding ring as a circumferential groove and one lateral surface of the riding ring as an annular groove, and the clamping elements include screw jaws which engage in the at least one circular groove.
 14. A fastening arrangement according to claim 13, wherein the riding ring has two concentric annular grooves formed in a lateral face thereof and the screw jaws of the clamping elements are formed as grippers, with one of two gripping jaws of each screw jaw engaging in each of the two concentric grooves.
 15. A fastening arrangement according to claim 13, wherein the screw jaws of the clamping elements are formed as shears, shear ends of which can be spread apart against lateral surfaces of an appropriately shaped annular groove in the riding ring.
 16. A fastening arrangement according to claim 13, wherein each of the clamping elements include a clamping screw for moving at least a portion of an associated screw jaw to tension the screw jaw in a force-fit manner on the riding ring.
 17. A fastening arrangement according to claim 16, wherein the screw jaws of the clamping elements are formed angularly, with an axial arm having at least one hook-shaped end which engages with a circumferential groove arranged on an interior surface of the riding ring, and with a radial arm which supports at least one clamping screw, the clamping screw engaging with an annular groove arranged on a neighboring lateral surface of the riding ring, whereby the clamping screw tensions the screw jaw with the riding ring in a force-fit manner.
 18. A fastening arrangement according to claim 17, wherein the tensioning between the screw jaw and the riding ring is formed as a symmetrical 3-point transfer of force with two spaced hook-shaped ends per angular screw jaw arranged on the axial arm, which arms lie symmetrically on opposite sides of the clamping screw.
 19. A fastening arrangement according to claim 16, wherein the screw jaws of the clamping elements include wedge shaped elements, wherein rotation of the clamping screw causes the wedge shaped elements to move apart into force-fitting engagement with side walls of the circular groove.
 20. A fastening arrangement between a riding ring which encircles a casing of a rotary cylinder, comprising: a plurality of support elements affixed to the casing of the rotary cylinder and projecting radially outwardly, at least one circular groove formed in a surface of the riding ring, a plurality of clamping elements distributed around a perimeter of the riding ring and connected with the support elements such that the clamping elements are restrained against movement in axial and circumferential directions relative to the rotary cylinder by the support elements, the clamping elements further engaging in a force-fit manner with the circular groove of the riding ring, whereby the riding ring is immobilized in both the axial and circumferential directions relative to the casing of the rotary cylinder.
 21. A fastening arrangement according to claim 20, wherein the clamping elements include screw jaws engaged in the circular groove.
 22. A fastening arrangement according to claim 21, wherein the clamping elements include a clamping screw engaged with the screw jaws to move the screw jaws into force-fitting engagement with at least one side wall of the circular groove.
 23. A fastening arrangement according to claim 22, wherein each clamping element comprises two screw jaws movable towards each other to force-fittingly engage the at least one circular groove.
 24. A fastening arrangement according to claim 22, wherein each clamping element comprises two screw jaws movable away from each other to force-fittingly engage the at least one circular groove.
 25. A fastening arrangement according to claim 20, wherein the at least one circular groove comprises a circumferential groove formed on an inner surface of the riding ring and an annular groove formed on a lateral surface of the riding ring.
 26. A fastening arrangement according to claim 20, wherein the at least one circular groove comprises two concentric annular grooves formed on a lateral surface of the riding ring.
 27. A fastening arrangement according to claim 20, wherein the at least one circular groove comprises one annular groove formed on a lateral surface of the riding ring. 